Ying said dryly, "Mei Yi," her hands still folded perfectly at her waist. "I'm only speaking the truth!" Mei Yi protested, her cheeks puffing out. "How could anyone look upon Her Highness and not rush here on wings?" even Shayue's smile deepened slightly. "Wings would be impractical Mei Yi," she said, her voice measured and serene. "A horse suffices, provided it is ridden with purpose." Ying said, through her lips betrayed the faintest curve. "Your Highness is too generous, if it were I, I would have already sent a rider to inquire whether his horse has lost its way, or merely his sense of timing." Mei Yi asked slightly tilting her head, "And if both were lost, than what?" Ying replied naturally, "Then I would lend him mine, and ensure the saddle was fitted tightly." Mei Yi gasped, delighted, "Ying er! That is almost a joke! Now you have learnt to make jokes, huh?" Mei Yi said smiling. "It is a precaution, if the groom is late for his own wedding it will only invites speculations, a punctual one invites respect." Ying corrected herself without changing her expression.
Shayue's gaze drifted across the window, where pale light filtered through the silk curtains. "Respect is not summoned by a tighter saddle but, it is earned by the man who chooses to arrive, or forfeited by the man who does not." Mei Yi declare, "Then he shall earn it!" striking a small pose, "Your Highness can command it, with a single glance!" Ying repeated, "With a single glance, one may also freeze a river, theoretically." Mei Yi waved her hand dismissively. "Theoretical rivers… are boring. Your Highness's actual glance is legendary!" Shayue turned her head, her eyes meeting Ying's with something unreadable. "Legendary," she murmured. "Is that what they call a woman who has simply refused to lower her gaze?" Ying held her gaze, unflinching. "They call it what they cannot understand, Your Highness has never lowered her gaze to anyone, not to the enemies, not to fate itself. She said simply. Mei Yi pressed her sleeve to her eye, sniffling dramatically. "Ying er spoke beautifully! I must remember this moment. I should probably write it down, before I forget it!"
"No one is writing anything and that includes you too." Ying said her face calm.
"But I want to—"
"No." Ying said at last with determined tone.
Mei Yi pouted, then in an instant she brightened again. "Your Highness, if the Crown Prince dares to make you wait for more than one moment longer, than I shall personally stand in front of the palace gates and glare at him until he apologizes to you!" Ying observed and said with a firm voice, "Your glare lacks intimidation." Mei Yi protested, "It has sincerity!" Shayue slightly laughed at their banter, a rare genuine sound, brief and controlled. "Then let us hope for that?" she said while adjusting her sleeve with deliberate grace, "that sincerity is sufficient. For him, and for the empire he represents." She paused in brief, her both hand locking together, she finally said, "Mei Yi. Ying." They both answered together without any hesitation and immediate, "Yes, Your Highness." Shayue looked back at them, her smile fading into something fierce and composed. "Remember. Whatever awaits us beyond those doors… do not let your guard down, do not let anyone hurt and tries to hurt you, fight back no matter what, don't let them think we are powerless. Remember we are strong, no matter what, even if the Crown Prince doesn't show up at the wedding, don't forgot our purpose. The wedding is just a step that will let us proceed further for our plan." She took a brief silence, "I did not choose this alliance for nothing, but I have chosen it, in how I will honor it. With our head high, with unshaken bearing and my purpose clear, nothing will ever change." Ying and Mei Yi bowed slightly, shallow and precise, "We will remember it Your Highness, we will never let you down nor we will let anyone one look down on us, Your Highness, just command and this trusted servants will follow you."
Outside—the palace bells began to start ringing, one after another, announcing as the auspicious wedding hour is approaching. Shayue turned towards the chamber doors, the doors slowly opening, her stepped forward with grace, as her countless layers of her crimson wedding hanfu unfurled behind her, their long trailing silks rising and falling with every step like a rhythmic waves upon a tranquil sea. The phoenix embroidered on her wedding hanfu borrowed fire. Golden tassels hanging from her bridal crown swayed softly with each movement. "Then let us go and see what manner of man keeps his empire as his first priority and other empire waiting." She said with a steady tone as stone beneath silk. And within the quiet bridal chamber—the future Crown Princess of Longlin stood ready to step towards the next chapter of her destiny.
--
The final adjustments were completed quickly, after carefully inspecting every detail for one last time, Shayue's gaze fell towards Mei Yi and Ying, "Ying er. Mei Yi, has everything been prepared?" she asked them softly. Ying replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Highness. The ceremonial gifts have already been arranged, the officials are awaiting the auspicious hour, and Nanny Wei is currently overseeing the final preparations in the main hall." Mei Yi nodded enthusiastically. "Everything is proceeding smoothly Your Highness, there is not a single mistake that had been found." faint smile appeared on Shayue's lips, "Then go assist Nanny Wei, ensure that nothing is overlooked or missed something." both Ying and Mei Yi bowed respectfully to Shayue, "As you command, Your Highness." The courtyard gradually became empty, the rustle of footsteps faded into silence. For the first time that morning, Shayue was finally alone. The late spring breeze drifted gently through the courtyard, she was remained where she was, standing beneath the open sky. A gentle breeze wandered through the imperial garden, carrying with it the sweet fragrance of late spring blossoms, before her stood haitang tree, its graceful branches still adorned with clusters of pale pink flowers. Yet spring was nearing its end, and with every passing breeze, delicate petals loosened from their branches, drifting slowly through the air like fragments of silk before settling on the stone pathway.
She took a few steps towards the tree, the hem of her crimson wedding robes swept lightly across the ground, while the golden tassels hanging from her bridal crown swayed gently beside her cheeks. Stopping beneath the flowering canopy, she slowly raised her hand. Her fingertips gently brushed against a blossom clinging to the branch. Soft, delicate and beautiful, a single breeze passed through, petals descended around her in quiet silence. A petal settled upon her sleeve, another petal rested gently upon her palm. Shayue lowered her eyes, quietly watching the fragile blossom resting against her hand, for a fleeting moment, the courtyard before her seemed to blur. Her gaze lingered upon the haitang tree.
This tree… had been planted by her mother. She could still remember that springs afternoon many years ago, when she was no taller than the stone railing surrounding the courtyard. Her mother had knelt beside the young sapling, covering its roots with earth before gently placing Shayue's tiny hand upon its slender trunk.
"One day, Yue'er this little tree will grow together with us and you will grow with it." Her mother had said with a gentle smile on her face holding Shayue in her hands. Shayue said, "Then I will be grow taller than mother!" her mother slightly laughed at her remark and said, "Yes my little Yue'er you will grow taller than me."
Years had passed since that day and the memory is still within her brain. The frail sapling had become a flourishing tree, yet the person who planted it, was no longer here to see it. A faint smile appeared on Shayue's lips, tender, bittersweet and almost imperceptible.
'Mother… the tree you planted has endured countless springs and today… your daughter will leave this home beneath the same blossom tree.'
Her fingertips lingered against the branch for another quiet moment before she slowly withdraw her hand, another breeze swept through the courtyard. The branches moved gently overhead, scattering another shower of petals around her, as though the tree itself were offering its silent blessing, as though her mother is offering her blessing to her. She lifted her gaze toward the endless blue heavens beyond the flowering canopy.
'Even spring has reached its season of farewell… and so have I, from today onwards, everything would change, my title, my home, my future. By the time the sun would set beyond this palace walls, I would be no longer the Crown Princess of Fengyu. I would become… the one of the Longlin.'
Her fingers lightly brushed the embroidered sleeve of her wedding robes,
'Longlin… the empire that would soon become my home, the empire that I had resolved to serve, and the man I am destined to marry—Lin Yechen.'
A man whose name echoed across the entire continent, cold, ruthless and unyielding, Her gaze lingered upon the falling petals dancing through the air.
'Lin Yechen … I would really like to see what type of man you are and as the future husband of mine.'
To Be Continued...